3863. lu

Lexicon

lu: If only, Oh that, Would that

Original Word: לוּא
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: luw'
Pronunciation: loo
Phonetic Spelling: (loo)
Definition: If only, Oh that, Would that
Meaning: if, would that!

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

if haply, peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God that

Or lu {loo}; or luw {loo}; a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. As a wish) would that! -- if (haply), peradventure, I pray thee, though, I would, would God (that).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. conjunction
Definition
if, oh that
NASB Translation
if (8), if only (4), Oh (4), please (1), would (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

לֻא 2 Samuel 18:12 Kt (Qr לוּ) if: see לוּ.

לאב (√ of following, compare Arabic (medial ) be thirsty, a stony tract of land (see Wetzst^{Reisebericht 99})).

לוּ₁₇ and לוּא ( 1 Samuel 14:30; Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 63:19), also לֻא (Qr לוּ), 2 Samuel 18:12; 2 Samuel 19:7 (Arabic , Aramaic , לְוַי, Mishna לְוַי, Assyrian lû, with optative force, Dl^{§§ 78 end, 93, 145}; compare Kö^{ii. 333}),

conjunction if, O that: —

1 if (stating a case which has not been, or is not likely to be, realized):

a. followed by perfect (so mostly), Deuteronomy 32:29 לו חכמו ישׂכילו זאת if they had been wise (which they are not), they would understand this; Micah 2:11 (apodosis וְהָיָה); Judges 8:19; Judges 13:23 להמיתנו לא לקח לו ׳חפץ י if J. had desired to slay us, he would not have taken, &c.; 1 Samuel 14:30; 2 Samuel 19:7.

b. followed by imperfect Ezekiel 14:15 if I were to send, &c. (but read probably אוֺ, compare Ezekiel 14:17; Ezekiel 14:19).

c. followed by participle, 2 Samuel 18:12 וְלֻא אָנֹכִי שֹׁקֵל and though I should be weighing 1000 pieces of silver upon my hand, I would not, &c.; Psalm 81:14-17 לו עמי שֹׁמֵעַ לי if my people were hearkening to me, . . . quickly would I bow down, &c.

d. followed by יֵשׁ Job 16:4. — With the apodosis omitted, Genesis 50:15 לוּ יִשְׂטְמֵנוּ if Joseph were to hate us (how should we fare then ?).

2 If only ...! i.e. O that! would that! (compare εἰ γάρ, εἴθε) usually followed by perf., as Numbers 14:2 (twice in verse) לוּ מַתְנוּ if only we had died in the land of Egypt! Numbers 20:3; Joshua 7:7 וְלוּ הוֺאַלְנוּ וַנֵּשֶׁב Isaiah 48:18; Isaiah 63:19; followed by יֵשׁ Numbers 22:29; followed by imperfect Genesis 17:18 לו יחיה O that Ishmael might live before thee! Job 6:2; followed by jussive Genesis 30:34 כדברך לו יהי; followed by imperative Genesis 23:13 אם אתה לוּ שׁמעני if thou — O that thou wouldst hear me! (+ probably Genesis 23:5 לאמר ׃ לוּ שׁמעני for ׳לאמרֹ לוֺ ׃ שׁ, and similarly Genesis 23:15). — Read also probably לֻא for Masoretic לֹא Judges 21:22 (with כִּי עַתָּה), 1 Samuel 13:13; 1 Samuel 20:14 (twice in verse); Job 9:33 (followed by יֵשׁ); and perhaps Job 14:4 (Ew Kö).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive particle of incitement and entreaty

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • The Greek equivalent that captures a similar sense of obligation or necessity is Strong's Greek Number G3784: ὀφείλω (opheilō), which means "to owe" or "ought." While not a direct translation, ὀφείλω conveys a sense of duty or necessity that can parallel the wishful or desired state expressed by לוּא in certain contexts.

Usage: This particle is used in the Hebrew Bible to express a strong wish or desire, often in contexts where the speaker is expressing a longing for a different reality or outcome. It is typically used in poetic or emotional contexts.

Context: • The Hebrew particle לוּא appears in several key passages in the Old Testament, where it conveys a deep yearning or wishful thinking. It is often found in contexts of lamentation or supplication, where the speaker is expressing a heartfelt desire for a change in circumstances.
• For example, in Job 6:2, Job uses לוּא to express his deep desire for his suffering to be weighed and understood: "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!"
• In Psalm 81:13, the psalmist uses לוּא to express God's longing for His people to listen and follow His ways: "If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways!"
• The particle is also used in contexts of regret or longing for a past condition, as seen in 2 Samuel 18:33, where David laments the death of his son Absalom: "If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!"
• The use of לוּא highlights the emotional intensity and depth of feeling in these passages, underscoring the human experience of longing and desire for a different reality.

Forms and Transliterations

וְל֥וּ וְל֨וּא וְלוּ֙ ולו ולוא ל֖וּ ל֗וּ ל֚וּ ל֣וּ ל֤וּ ל֤וּ־ ל֥וּ ל֥וּא לֹ֣א לֽוּ־ לא לו לוּ֩ לוּ־ לוּא֩ לו־ לוא lo lō lu lū lū- veLu wə·lū wəlū

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 17:18
HEB: אֶל־ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥וּ יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל יִחְיֶ֥ה
NAS: to God, Oh that Ishmael
KJV: unto God, O that Ishmael
INT: to God Oh Ishmael live

Genesis 23:13
HEB: אִם־ אַתָּ֥ה ל֖וּ שְׁמָעֵ֑נִי נָתַ֜תִּי
NAS: you will only please listen
KJV: saying, But if thou [wilt give it], I pray thee, hear
INT: If you please listen will give

Genesis 30:34
HEB: לָבָ֖ן הֵ֑ן ל֖וּ יְהִ֥י כִדְבָרֶֽךָ׃
KJV: said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.
INT: Laban Good be it be according to your word

Genesis 50:15
HEB: אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ ל֥וּ יִשְׂטְמֵ֖נוּ יוֹסֵ֑ף
KJV: Joseph will peradventure hate us,
INT: their father said will peradventure bears Joseph

Numbers 14:2
HEB: כָּל־ הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־ מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ
NAS: said to them, Would that we had died
KJV: said unto them, Would God that we had died
INT: the whole congregation Would had died the land

Numbers 14:2
HEB: בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־ מָֽתְנוּ׃
NAS: Or would that we had died
KJV: of Egypt! or would God we had died
INT: wilderness this would had died

Numbers 20:3
HEB: וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע
NAS: saying, If only we had perished
KJV: saying, Would God that we had died
INT: and spoke saying If had perished perished

Numbers 22:29
HEB: הִתְעַלַּ֖לְתְּ בִּ֑י ל֤וּ יֶשׁ־ חֶ֙רֶב֙
NAS: you have made a mockery of me! If there
KJV: Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were
INT: Because have made If there A sword

Deuteronomy 32:29
HEB: ל֥וּ חָכְמ֖וּ יַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ
NAS: Would that they were wise,
KJV: O that they were wise,
INT: Would were wise understood

Joshua 7:7
HEB: הָאֱמֹרִ֖י לְהַאֲבִידֵ֑נוּ וְלוּ֙ הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ וַנֵּ֔שֶׁב
NAS: to destroy us? If only we had been willing
KJV: to destroy us? would to God we had been content,
INT: of the Amorites to destroy If had been willing to dwell

Judges 8:19
HEB: חַי־ יְהוָ֗ה ל֚וּ הַחֲיִתֶ֣ם אוֹתָ֔ם
NAS: lives, if only you had let them live,
KJV: liveth, if ye had saved them alive,
INT: lives the LORD if live not

Judges 13:23
HEB: ל֣וֹ אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ לוּ֩ חָפֵ֨ץ יְהוָ֤ה
NAS: said to him, If the LORD
KJV: said unto him, If the LORD
INT: said his wife If had desired the LORD

1 Samuel 14:30
HEB: אַ֗ף כִּ֡י לוּא֩ אָכֹ֨ל אָכַ֤ל
NAS: more, if only the people
KJV: How much more, if haply the people
INT: How for if had eaten freely

2 Samuel 18:12
HEB: [וְלֹא כ] (וְל֨וּא ק) אָנֹכִ֜י
NAS: to Joab, Even if I should receive
KJV: unto Joab, Though I should receive
INT: against to Joab if I receive

2 Samuel 19:6
HEB: [לֹא כ] (ל֣וּ ק) אַבְשָׁל֥וֹם
NAS: this day that if Absalom
KJV: I perceive, that if Absalom
INT: day for if Absalom were alive

Job 6:2
HEB: ל֗וּ שָׁק֣וֹל יִשָּׁקֵ֣ל
NAS: Oh that my grief were actually
KJV: Oh that my grief were throughly
INT: Oh were actually weighed

Job 9:33
HEB: לֹ֣א יֵשׁ־ בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ
INT: if There between

Job 16:4
HEB: כָּכֶ֪ם אֲדַ֫בֵּ֥רָה ל֤וּ־ יֵ֪שׁ נַפְשְׁכֶ֡ם
NAS: could speak like you, If I were in your place.
KJV: I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul
INT: I speak If were your soul

Psalm 81:13
HEB: ל֗וּ עַ֭מִּי שֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ
NAS: Oh that My people would listen
KJV: Oh that my people had hearkened
INT: Oh my people listen

Isaiah 48:18
HEB: ל֥וּא הִקְשַׁ֖בְתָּ לְמִצְוֹתָ֑י
NAS: If only you had paid attention
KJV: O that thou hadst hearkened
INT: If had paid to my commandments

Ezekiel 14:15
HEB: לֽוּ־ חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֛ה
NAS: If I were to cause wild beasts
KJV: If I cause noisome beasts
INT: If beasts wild

Micah 2:11
HEB: לוּ־ אִ֞ישׁ הֹלֵ֥ךְ
NAS: If a man walking
KJV: If a man walking
INT: If A man walking

22 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3863
22 Occurrences

lō — 1 Occ.
lū — 18 Occ.
wə·lū — 3 Occ.